California Archives

Concerns raised over restrictions’ long-term impact on spiritual health

Aug 4, 2020

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone thanked priests of the archdiocese in a July 30 letter for their “continued pastoral care” to their people and reminded them to continue their care “always keeping with the local health orders of your county.”

By Catholic News Service

Bishops say local health officials should help decide on reopening schools

Jul 28, 2020

California’s Catholic bishops said they understand the “real and ongoing” threat of the coronavirus and concerns over returning safely to schools, but they also are worried about schoolchildren’s overall health and development if they cannot return soon to classroom learning.

By Catholic News Service

Spanish bishop of St. Junipero Serra’s birthplace defends missionary’s legacy

Jul 23, 2020

As statues of St. Junipero Serra continue to be vandalized in the United States, a Spanish bishop defended the evangelizer of California in the same place where the 18th century Franciscan saint was baptized.

By Inés San Martín

California shuts bars, indoor dining and most gyms, churches

Jul 14, 2020

Bars and inside restaurant dining are banned throughout California, while indoor religious services, gyms and hair and nail salons are again off-limits in most of the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday in issuing a sweeping set of closures to head off surging coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

By Adam Beam

Mass celebrated after fire damages centuries-old California mission church

Jul 13, 2020

Mass was celebrated Sunday on the grounds of a historic Catholic church in Southern California that had been heavily damaged by fire a day earlier.

By Marcio Sanchez and Christopher Weber

California church singing ban strikes sour note for some; Catholic Church says it will comply

Jul 11, 2020

Crossroads Community Church Senior Pastor Jim Clark wants to keep his 1,500 parishioners safe during the coronavirus pandemic but he’s drawing the line at a new California ban on singing or chanting at religious services.

By Don Thompson